But the new W5Fe laptop from ASUS is at least as unique (or gimmicky, if you're feeling harsh), with a comparatively expansive 2.8-in. external screen, large enough to let you read through e-mails and even play Solitaire, however awkwardly. This is the first laptop to showcase SideShow, a Windows Vista feature that ports over various applications for use on a smaller device. Portable SideShow devices are on the way, and the W5Fe's SideShow screen feels a lot like a separate unit that's been slapped onto the laptop (there's even a hump that hammers this impression home). The display is actually made by nVidia, best known for gamer-ready graphics cards, and while it's not perfect, it feels like something all laptops should, and probably will, incorporate.

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Unfortunately, the review unit we're testing came with a completely locked version of SideShow, but in theory you can pick which apps are accessible via the external screen, such as Windows Mail and Windows Media Player. It displays Outlook calendar reminders, and you can click through your inbox or play a song through headphones (or through the computer's very tiny, very sad speakers). Why would anyone want to bother with a munchkin-ized version of the laptop that's right there in front of you? SideShow saves power, especially since you don't have to keep pulling the computer in and out of hibernation for simple, BlackBerry-worthy tasks.

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The laptop itself is your standard high-performance high-end machine, with 160GB of storage, 1.5GB of RAM and a 2 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, and a $2200 price tag. Based on our initial research, it looks like the SideShow screen pushes the price above comparable laptops by about $100. As with any heavily designed laptop, you either like the look or don't; I think it's evil-looking and cool, but what do I know? But if you're in the market for a powerful laptop that'll turn heads, both geeky and otherwise, take a look at the W5Fe. And if you think that's a dumb reason to spend lots of money on a laptop, remember that, despite what anyone says, no one actually buys a Lamborghini because they love driving in the "twisties." —Erik Sofge